Fly Fishing-willing to learn

[ML_Hunter]

Last year I purchased a very nice fly rod (saw it on clearance and could not pass up the price) and over the summer I purchased a reel, got it backed and lined and picked up a few flys. The guy at Sportsman Warehouse in Idaho Falls went over rigging with me and gave me so tips, after showing me a map of where to fish on the Snake River I went out to give it a good ol' collage try.

What I learned this day was although I knew how to read water and found several pockets where fish were holding...I had no idea of what I was doing. 

So down to the point, anyone know where one can get some fly fishing lessons? Casting, choosing the right flys, basically the basics.

[ML_Hunter]

Around the Olympia/Thurston County area. 

[Button Nubbs]

I believe most fly shops tend to offer lessons.

[Button Nubbs]

Get some books and videos also. Lani wallers steelhead dreams video is packed with info, some of the coolest footage I have ever seen that will get your heart pumping.

[Mumbles]

Please consider looking up the south sound fly casters or fly fishing club.
Their membership is very helpful. Good luck.

[wapiti hunter2]

Watch as much stuff by Lefty Kreh as you can find.  Search for videos and watch you tube.  He is the best.  If you can, take a series of lessons with a local instructor.  You only need a half dozen or so and you will be set for life. Practice 20 min/day till the season starts.  NOW is the time to get going.  don't wait.

[JLS]

Choosing the right flies basically comes down to a basic fundamental knowledge of entomology and fish feeding behavior.  If you are trying to match a hatch, you have to know if you're looking at a stonefly, caddisfly, mayfly, or a midge.  These are the basic bugs you'll be dealing with.

Now, you need to try different forms of these.  Nymphs = larval form and are fished subsurface and usually on the bottom.  Emergers =  molting insects that are transitioning from larval form to adult form.  Then, you have the classic dry fly fished as an adult form of the species.

Size and color can be very important when you are trying to match the hatch.

Under a lot of circumstances, you can fish an attractor type pattern that can resemble a lot of different food types.  I.e. wooly bugger, stimulator, humpy and so on. 

Honestly, if you have some bead head hare's ears, some prince nymphs, some wooly buggers, humpies, royal wulffs, and parachute adams in various sizes you could probably catch fish out of about any river around.  Technique, drag free presentation, getting nymphs along the bottom, and detecting subtle takes are much more important than a box full of 200 different fly patterns.

[nwwanderer]

Small trout streams are a great place to start.  Casting technique can be complicated, find an active steelhead fly fisher, they cast a lot.  For advanced technique find a salt water fly guy, Oliver Owens on Oahu is a great teacher and reads water like an osprey. 

[ribka]

If you make it over to the east side I"LL take you fishing and learn ya about fly casting, fly selection, reading water, tippets, weight selection for nymphing etc.

[devon flyfisher]

Alongside Lefty is the late great Mel Krieger, he does some good dvd's and also fly casting faults and fixes.
Have a basic grasp of entomology, there isnt much you cant catch with a para adams, stimulator, elk hair caddis, beadhead pheasant tail nymph or prince nymph.
Last word of advice, let the rod do the work and not your arm, dont over power the cast, less is more!
Cheers
Richard

[ML_Hunter]

Thanks guys. I'll do some research on some local fly clubs and talk to some local fly shops as well. I havent been casting daily, that may have to change, and I'll look into some of those books and videos. Lots of great advice 

Thanks!

[aaronoto]

Paying for a fly casting lesson is one way to get a jump start.  I learned enough in a one hour private lesson that I could get on the water and cast confidently, and I had never picked up a fly rod in my life prior to that.  If you're ever in Skagit county give me shout and we can hit the water and throw a few loops.  I fish with a Spey rod most days now, but still love my single hander when fishing the beach.

[deerslyr]

I taught myself through youtube videos and lots of practice. The biggest issue for me after the correct fly selection was mending the line for a correct presentation. If you dont mend your line correctly fish just wont take it.

[ML_Hunter]

I taught myself through youtube videos and lots of practice. The biggest issue for me after the correct fly selection was mending the line for a correct presentation. If you dont mend your line correctly fish just wont take it.

I fish eggs, jigs, the pink worm, and other steelhead/salmon tatics under a float quite often where I also have to mend the line. So I think that part may come easy to me...although i'm sure its differnt as well.